Lamp socket for illuminating an area

ABSTRACT

A socket for a lamp has a tube portion in which the lamp is supported and an enlarged cylindrical extension provided with a transverse end flange containing spaced notches of different length. A dome shaped lens having an end flange containing oppositely disposed slots is supported in a housing having a window on one side of the centerline of a dome shaped central section through which the light from the bulb and lens is directed to a predetermined area. The housing has a pair of inwardly directed flanges of different length conforming to the notches in the end flange and which retain an elastomeric washer within the housing against the lens flange. The dome shaped section of the housing has extending wings thereon which permit the housing to be rotated relative to the socket to released and secured positions.

- Waited States Patent [191 Wilking et a1.

14 Sept. 4, 1973 LAMP SOCKET FOR ILLUMINATING AN AREA [73] Assignee: Microdot lnc., Greenwich, Conn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 308,756

3,066,218 11/1962 Woodcock 240/8.l6

Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters, Jr. Attorney-J. King Harness, Lyman R. Lyon et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A socket for a lamp has a tube portion in which the lamp is supported and an enlarged cylindrical extension provided with a transverse end flange containing spaced notches of different length. A dome shaped lens having an end flange containing oppositely disposed slots is supported in a housing having a window on one side of the centerline of a dome shaped central section through which the light from the bulb and lens is directed to a predetermined area. The housing has a pair of inwardly directed flanges of different length confonning to the notches in the end flange and which retain an elastomcric washer within the housing against the lens flange. The dome shaped section of the housing has extending wings thereon which permit the housing to be rotated relative to the socket to released and secured positions.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LAMP SOCKET FOR ILLUMINATING AN AREA SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a socket made from a thin sheet of metal to have a socket tube portion for a light bulb with .l-slots in the wall and an enlarged cylindrical extension provided with a slot by which the socket is oriented in an aperture of a supporting member. The outer edge of the enlarged cylindrical extension is provided with a transversely disposed flange having oppositely disposed notches of different length with nibs extending from some edges in the direction of the socket tube portion. The lens has a central dome shaped section which extends within a dome shaped section of a housing, a portion of one side of which is cut away to form a window for the light coming through the lens from a lamp bulb. The diametrical portion of the dome housing above the window has spaced wings extending therefrom by which the housing can be grasped when turned relative to the enlarged cylindrical extension. The housing has a cylindrical flange from which a pair of oppositely disposed flanges of different length extend inwardly so as to mate with the notches in the flange of the enlarged extension.

The dome shaped lens has an edge flange containing notches which pass over the flanges of the housing when moved thereinto. An elastomeric washer is placed upon the flange of the lens beneath the flanges of the housing which seals the lens thereto and provides a bias when the flanges of the housing are inserted into the notches of the flange of the enlarged extension and rotated thereunder. One of the flanges moves over one of a pair of nibs on one of the flange sections of the enlarged extension and against the other nib which secures the flange and housing in fixed sealed relation to each other.

The end of the socket tube portion has an elastomeric sealing sleeve secured thereover which has tubular portions on the end through which conductors extend. The conductors pass through a spring pressed washer and are provided with end tenninals with which the contacts of the lamp bulbs engage when secured by the .I-slot within the socket tube portion. The cylindrical extension has a thread thereon the turns of which are interrupted by a slot which engages a flange within a supporting aperture so as to be oriented thereby. The socket is secured within the aperture by a nut screwed upon the thread thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, with a part in section, of a light directing socket embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, as viewed from the point 2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, as viewed from the point 4 thereof, and

FIG. 5 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, as viewed from the point 5 thereof.

1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Figures, a socket 11 has a socket tube portion 12 and an enlarged cylindrical extension 13. The socket tube portion 12 has oppositely disposed J-slots 14 for securing a light bulb 15 within the tube portion. The extension 13 has a laterally extending notched flange 16 which engages a lateral offset notched flange 17 on a threaded cylindrical sleeve 18, the unnotched sections of the flanges 16 and 17 are secured together by the reversely bent edge 19 of the flange sections 17. A bottom 21 of the sleeve 18 has a central aperture 20 through which the socket tube portion 12 extends. It is to be understood that the socket tube portion 12 may have the thread 18 provided directly on the cylindrical extension 13 thereof thereby eliminating the separate threaded sleeve 18 just described. It is also within the purivew of the invention to eliminate the thread 18 and substitute other securing means therefor such as a snap ring, a twist-in member and the like.

The bottom of the socket tube portion 12 has an inwardly extending flange containing an elongated opening through which a pair of conductors 22 extend. The inner ends of the conductors are secured to terminals 23 and extend through a washer 24 having a lip 25 thereon which projects into a slot 26 in the wall of the socket portion 12 for orienting the terminals 23 therein. A boot 27 of elastomeric material illustrates one way of sealing the bottom end of the socket tube portion 12 which has two legs 28 on the end through which the conductors 22 extend. Any means known in the art to be suitable may be used to seal the bottom end of the socket or the seal may be omitted as would be necessary if disconnect type of conductors are employed. A spring 29 at the bottom of the socket tube portion 12 engages the underside of the washer 24 and urges the terminals outwardly against the contacts on the bottom of the light bulb 15. The conductors 22 are free to slide within the legs 28 while remaining sealed thereby.

A lense 31 has a semi-spherical dome-shaped central section 32 and an outwardly extending flange 33 about the bottom edge which has diametrical notches 40 therein. The lens may be made of polycarbonate resin molding compound, of glass or of other suitable material so as to be transparent when employed for illuminating a license plate or any other area. The lens 31 is secured within a housing 34 which has a central dome portion 35, an outwardly extending flange portion 36 from which a cylindrical edge flange 37 extends. Oppositely disposed inwardly extending flanges 38 and 39 are provided on the edge of the cylindrical flange 37. The flanges 16 and 17 have a pair of oppositely disposed notches 41 and 42 provided therein through which the flanges 38 and 39 can pass. It will be noted that the flange 38 and notch 41 are of greater length than the flange 39 and the notch 42 for the purpose of orienting the housing 34 when attached to the enlarged extension 13 of the socket portion 12 An elastomeric washer 43 is applied against the flange 33 of the lens 31 and beneath the flanges 38 and 39 of the housing 34. The flanges 38 and 39 are forced through the notches 41 and 42 while compressing the washer 43 after which the housing 34 is rotated relative to the flanges 16 and 17. This advances the flange 39 over a nondeflectable nib 44 until it engages the nib 45 whereupon the release of the pressure locks the housing and socket tube portion 12 in oriented relation to each other. The elastomeric washer 43 permits the forcing of the socket portion 12 toward the housing 34 to permit and retain the engagement of the flanges 16 and 17 with the flanges 38 and 39. The washer also seals the elements relative to each other against the ingress of moisture, dirt and grime. A third nib 46 stops the reverse rotation of the housing 34 and locates the flanges 38 and 39 in alignment with the notches 41 and 42 to permit the separation thereof. A pair of spaced aligned wings 53 are formed on the housing 34 which permits the housing to be rotated relative to the cylindrical extension 13 and to the panel on which it is mounted. This permits the housing 34 and lens 31 to be removed to permit a bulb to be replaced from the front of the supporting panel.

The thread 47 on the threaded cylindrical sleeve 18 has a notch 48 extending through the turns thereof for orienting the socket within a supporting aperture 49 of a panel 50. The aperture has a tongue 51 extending thereinto which is received by the notch 48 as the sleeve 18 is advanced thereinto. A nut 52 is screwed upon the thread 47 to mount the socket in oriented position within the aperture. Other means known in the art to be suitable may be substituted for the thread 47 to support the socket on a panel to which the socket may be grounded. A separate ground wire may also be used if the panel or other support is made of plastic or is not grounded.

The flange 37 on the lens 31 when of substantial width may have notches 40 therein so as to pass over the flanges 38 and 39 when assembled within the housing 34. When the flange is narrow or is omitted, the lens is centered in the housing by the mating dome shapes thereof.

We claim:

1. In a socket, a formed element having a socket tube portion containing a pair of oppositely disposed J-slots for securing a lamp bulb therewithin, an enlarged cylindrical extension at the bulb supported end of said tube portion provided with a laterally extending flange containing notches, a transparent dome shaped lens, a housing having a dome shaped portion for receiving said lens and containing a window for exposing a portion of the lens, and aflange extending from the edge of the housing opposite to that having the dome, said flange containing oppositely disposed inwardly directed flanges which extend through said notches and secure the housing to the extension of said socket tube when relatively rotated.

2. In a socket as recited in claim 1, wherein an elastomeric washer is supported in the open end of the housing for sealing the lens thereto.

3. In a socket as recited in claim 2, wherein a section of the flange on the cylindrical extension adjacent to a notch has a pair of spaced nibs thereon between which one of the housing flanges is located when in locked position.

4. In a socket as recited in claim 3, wherein means is provided on said enlarged cylindrical extension for securing the socket in an aperture in a panel or other supporting element.

5. In a socket as recited in claim 4, wherein spaced wings are provided on said housing by which said housing and lens are rotated as a unit relative to said extension.

6. In a socket as recited in claim 5, wherein the central portion of the lens and housing are of mating dome shape.

7. In a socket as recited in claim 4, wherein said securing means is a thread which is interrupted to provide a notch, and a support member for said socket having an aperture provided with a tongue which extends into said thread notch to orient the socket when the socket is secured to the support member by a nut on said thread.

8. In a socket as recited in claim 7, wherein one of the housing flanges and one of the notches in the enlarged extension are of greater length than the other flange and notch for orienting the housing, lens and lamp filament relative to each other.

9. In a socket, a socket tube having J-slots in one end for supportinga light bulb therein and an enlarged end containing a lateral flange having a pair of oppositely disposed notches therein of difierent length, a dome shaped lens, a housing of dome shape for supporting said lens, said housing having a section cut away to provide a window, and flanges on said housing of different length for orienting the socket tube and housing when secured together by said flanges after passing through said notches.

10. In a socket as recited in claim 9, wherein the lateral flange adjacent to one of said notches has a pair of spaced nibs between which a flange is received, and an elastomeric washer within said housing for providing an outward bias which permits the flange to pass over one of the nibs when compressed and retain the flange between the nibs when released.

11. In a socket as recited in claim 10, wherein wings are provided on said housing which extend outwardly thereof and by which the socket may be turned asa unit in either direction.

' F i i 

1. In a socket, a formed element having a socket tube portion containing a pair of oppositely disposed J-slots for securing a lamp bulb therewithin, an enlarged cylindrical extension at the bulb supported end of said tube portion provided with a laterally extending flange containing notches, a transparent dome shaped lens, a housing having a dome shaped portion for receiving said lens and containing a window for exposing a portion of the lens, and a flange extending from the edge of the housing opposite to that having the dome, said flange containing oppositely disposed inwardly directed flanges which extend through said notches and secure the housing to the extension of said socket tube when relatively rotated.
 2. In a socket as recited in claim 1, wherein an elastomeric washer is supported in the open end of the housing for sealing the lens thereto.
 3. In a socket as recited in claim 2, wherein a section of the flange on the cylindrical extension adjacent to a notch has a pair of spaced nibs thereon between which one of the housing flanges is located when in locked position.
 4. In a socket as recited in claim 3, wherein means is provided on said enlarged cylindrical extension for securing the socket in an aperture in a panel or other supporting element.
 5. In a socket as recited in claim 4, wherein spaced wings are provided on said housing by which said housing and lens are rotated as a unit relative to said extension.
 6. In a socket as recited in claim 5, wherein the central portion of the lens and housing are of mating dome shape.
 7. In a socket as recited in claim 4, wherein said securing means is a thread which is interrupted to provide a notch, and a support member for said socket having an aperture provided with a tongue which extends into said thread notch to orient the socket when the socket is secured to the support member by a nut on said thread.
 8. In a socket as recited in claim 7, wherein one of the housing flanges and one of the notches in the enlarged extension are of greater length than the other flange and notch for orienting the housing, lens and lamp filament relative to each other.
 9. In a socket, a socket tube having J-slots in one end for supporting a light bulb therein and an enlarged end containing a lateral flange having a pair oF oppositely disposed notches therein of different length, a dome shaped lens, a housing of dome shape for supporting said lens, said housing having a section cut away to provide a window, and flanges on said housing of different length for orienting the socket tube and housing when secured together by said flanges after passing through said notches.
 10. In a socket as recited in claim 9, wherein the lateral flange adjacent to one of said notches has a pair of spaced nibs between which a flange is received, and an elastomeric washer within said housing for providing an outward bias which permits the flange to pass over one of the nibs when compressed and retain the flange between the nibs when released.
 11. In a socket as recited in claim 10, wherein wings are provided on said housing which extend outwardly thereof and by which the socket may be turned as a unit in either direction. 